Tap time division multiplexing

ABSTRACT

An integrated circuit comprising (i) a plurality of portions, each portion including test control circuitry; and (ii) at least one test input arranged to receive test data, wherein the test data is clocked in a plurality of time slots, with test data for different ones of the plurality of portions being allocated to different time slots.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present invention is related to those disclosed in the followingU.S. Non-Provisional Patent Applications:

-   1) Ser. No. 11/015,748 filed concurrently herewith, entitled “TAP    MULTIPLEXER”;-   2) Ser. No. 11/015,772 filed concurrently herewith, entitled “TAP    TIME DIVISION MULTIPLEXING WITH SCAN TEST”; and-   3) Ser. No. 11/015,749 filed concurrently herewith, entitled “TAP    SAMPLING AT DOUBLE RATE”.    The above applications are commonly assigned to the assignee of the    present invention. The disclosures of these related patent    applications are hereby incorporated by reference for all purposes    as if fully set forth herein.

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to an integrated circuit.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Test access port (TAP) controllers are known in the art. TAP controllersare used to effect communication of test data on and off chip via whatis known as a JTAG (joint test action group) port. The functions ofknown TAP controllers are defined by IEEE Standard 1149.1—1990 which ishereby incorporated by reference. That Standard defines test logic whichcan be included in an integrated circuit to provide standardizedapproaches to testing the interconnections between integrated circuits,testing the integrated circuit itself, and observing or modifyingcircuit activities during the integrated circuit's “normal” or “usermode” operation.

According to the IEEE Standard, the TAP controller is capable ofimplementing a variety of different test modes. In each of these testmodes, test data is supplied to the integrated circuit via an input pinof the TAP controller, and resultant data following the test is suppliedoff-chip via an output pin of the TAP controller.

Test data can also be input and output on multiple pins of the chip, notpassing through the TAP controller, according to the test mode selected.The resultant data is dependent on the test data and is compared withexpected data to check the validity of the test. The input and outputpins are referred to respectively as TDI (test data input) and TDO (testdata output). Many existing integrated circuits already incorporate aTAP controller of this type with the input and output pins TDI and TDO.

The IEEE Standard also defines a test clock signal TCK and a test modeselect signal TMS that are inputs to the TAP controller. Optionally, foruse in resetting the device, a test reset input signal notTRST (denotedas TRST* in some scripts) is also defined.

Our earlier patent application EP-A-0840217, which is herebyincorporated by reference, describes a system which makes use of thesepins and the TAP controller to increase the communication facilities ofthe integrated circuit without multiplexing the pins and therebyviolating the standard.

In the past, processors (CPUs) were manufactured so that a singleprocessor is incorporated in an integrated circuit, requiring off-chipaccess to all their ancillary circuitry, such as memory. As a result,the integrated circuit had a plurality of access pins so thatinformation about the CPU, in particular memory addressing information,was externally available from these access pins.

In addition to memory addressing information, it is useful to be able toobtain status information about the internal state of the processor toascertain for example such events as interrupts, changes in streams ofinstructions, setting of flags in various status registers of the CPU,etc.

Nowadays, chips are more complex and contain not only a processoron-chip but also its associated memory and other ancillary circuitry.Often there is more than one processor on a chip and those processorsmay interact. Thus, it is no longer a simple matter to monitor theoperation of the processor because the signals which are normallyavailable off-chip no longer provide a direct indication as to theinternal operation of the CPU(s).

With the increasing complexity of software designed to run on integratedcircuit CPUs it is increasingly important to adequately test thesoftware. This requires techniques for monitoring the operation of theCPU while it executes the software. It is a particularly onerousrequirement that the software be monitored non-intrusively while it isoperating in real time. There is a requirement for a system to achievethis when there are a plurality of CPUs on-chip that are required to betested. Even where it is not practical or not possible to achievenon-intrusive monitoring, there is still a requirement to gain access tothe operation of software being executed on a plurality of CPUs on-chipwith the minimum of intrusion.

One possible method of testing a plurality of CPUs on-chip would be tohave individual TAP controllers for each CPU, and a set of external pinsfor communications off-chip for each of the TAP controllers. However,this is undesirable due to the increased number of pins required, whichmay not be practical if the limit of available pins has already beenreached.

Our earlier patent application EP0982595, which is hereby incorporatedby reference, describes an alternative method of testing multiple CPUson a chip. One TAP controller on-chip interfaces between the externalpins and a data adaptor. The data adaptor controls communications to twoCPUs for testing. Whilst this system is useful in testing a number ofCPUs independently, this system is not particularly flexible.

The inventor has recognised that one problem with the known proposal fortesting an integrated circuit with more than one processor is therequirement for each processor to have an appropriate interface to thedata adaptor. Such a solution is not available where the plurality ofCPUs on-chip are not from the same family or company. Typically a CPUfor embedded applications will include a JTAG interface but will have noprovision for an alternate interface.

Another problem which needs to be addressed is how to make the transferof test signals to and from the integrated circuit being tested.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

To address the above-discussed deficiencies of the prior art, it is anaim of embodiments of the invention to address one or more of theseproblems.

According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided anintegrated circuit comprising: a plurality of portions, each portionincluding test control circuitry; at least one test input arranged toreceive test data; wherein said test data is clocked in a plurality oftime slots, with test data for different ones of said plurality ofportions being allocated to different time slots.

According to another aspect of the invention there is provided anintegrated circuit comprising: a plurality of portions, each portionincluding test control circuitry; and a plurality of test inputsarranged to receive test data, wherein in one mode of testing, data istransferred using tokens, with each token comprising m bits, m/2 bitsbeing transferred on a rising edge of a clock signal and m/2 bits beingtransferred on a falling edge of a clock signal so that a token istransferred in a clock cycle.

According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided anintegrated circuit having a first mode and a second mode of datatransfer, wherein in the first mode of data transfer the time taken fora test data input from external test circuitry to be received andcorresponding test data to be output to said external test circuitry isless than a clock period of said external test circuitry and in a secondmode of data transfer the time taken for a test data input from externaltest circuitry to be received and corresponding test data to be outputto said external test circuitry is greater than a clock period of saidexternal test circuitry, said integrated circuit comprising: decodingmeans for decoding said test data input; target circuitry forinteracting with said decoded test data input; and encoding means forencoding a signal from said target circuitry for said external testcircuitry, wherein said circuit is arranged in both said first andsecond mode of data transfer to have a n cycle operation in which saiddecoding means decodes said signal, said target circuitry interactswhich said signal and said encoding means encodes said signal.

According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided testcircuitry for testing an integrated circuit, said test circuitry beingexternal to said integrated circuit, said integrated circuit having afirst mode and a second mode of data transfer, wherein in the first modeof data transfer the time taken for test data input from said externaltest circuitry to be received and corresponding test data to be outputto said external test circuitry is less than a clock period of saidexternal test circuitry and in a second mode of data transfer the timetaken for a test data input from external test circuitry to be receivedand corresponding test data to be output to said external test circuitryis greater than a clock period of said external test circuitry, saidtest circuitry having a plurality of buffer locations for bufferingsignals received from and/or sent to said test circuitry, wherein withthe first mode of data transfer, the signals received from and/or sentto the test circuitry have a lower delay provided by said bufferlocations than with the second mode of data transfer.

Before undertaking the DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION below, itmay be advantageous to set forth definitions of certain words andphrases used throughout this patent document: the terms “include” and“comprise,” as well as derivatives thereof, mean inclusion withoutlimitation; the term “or,” is inclusive, meaning and/or; the phrases“associated with” and “associated therewith,” as well as derivativesthereof, may mean to include, be included within, interconnect with,contain, be contained within, connect to or with, couple to or with, becommunicable with, cooperate with, interleave, juxtapose, be proximateto, be bound to or with, have, have a property of, or the like; thephrase “hardware testing” refers to structural or manufacturing test,that is the process by which correct manufacture of the silicon orhardware is determined; the phrase “software testing” refers tomonitoring or debugging, that is the process by which the correctness ofthe software or the interaction between software and hardware isdetermined; and the term “testing” can refer to either one or both ofthese tests. Definitions for certain words and phrases are providedthroughout this patent document, those of ordinary skill in the artshould understand that in many, if not most instances, such definitionsapply to prior as well as future uses of such defined words and phrases.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a better understanding of the present invention and to show how thesame may be carried into effect, reference will now be made to theaccompanying drawings, in which like reference numerals represent likeparts, and in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates schematically a test environment for testing deviceson an integrated circuit board according to a first embodiment of thepresent invention;

FIG. 2 illustrates schematically the circuitry comprising themultiplexer block of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 illustrates the states and possible state transitions of anembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 shows a table with TAP signals and their significances for thestates and state transitions shown in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 illustrates schematically oversampling circuitry incorporated inan embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 6 shows timing diagram for two outputs of the arrangement of FIG.5;

FIG. 7 shows a timing diagram illustrating double rate data transmissionused in embodiments of the present invention;

FIG. 8 illustrates schematically a test environment for testing deviceson an integrated circuit board according to another embodiment of thepresent invention;

FIG. 9 shows the circuitry of the multiplexer driver of FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 shows the circuitry of the multiplexer block of FIG. 9;

FIG. 11 shows a table detailing a coding scheme used in embodiments ofthe present invention;

FIG. 12 a shows circuitry for implementing double rate data transmissionin embodiments of the present invention;

FIG. 12 b shows a modification of part of the circuitry of FIG. 12 a toincorporate oversampling;

FIG. 13 shows a timing diagram with two possible formats for datasignals;

FIG. 14 shows a timing diagram for the arrangement of FIG. 12 a;

FIG. 15 shows a frame of 16 half-slots;

FIG. 16 shows a table listing connections during a scan test of themultiplexer block;

FIG. 17 a illustrates transparent testing; and

FIG. 17 b shows pipeline testing.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIGS. 1 through 17 b, discussed below, and the various embodiments usedto describe the principles of the present invention in this patentdocument are by way of illustration only and should not be construed inany way to limit the scope of the invention. Those skilled in the artwill understand that the principles of the present invention may beimplemented in any suitably arranged integrated circuit having at leastone test input.

FIG. 1 illustrates schematically an embodiment of the present invention.A host computer 1 is connected to test equipment 2 which is in turnconnected to external pins 3–9 on an integrated circuit or chip 10. Theintegrated circuit 10 receives from the test equipment 2 a test clockinput TCK on pin 3, a test reset input notTRST on pin 4, a test modeselect input TMS on pin 5, a test data input TDI on pin 6, a firstchannel select input BYPASS_SELECT0 on pin 8 and a second channel selectinput BYPASS_SELECT1 on pin 9. The bypass select pins may be omitted insome embodiments of the invention. The integrated circuit 10 outputstest data TDO on pin 7 to the test equipment. These inputs and outputsare, except as discussed later, as defined by the JTAG standard.

The test equipment 2 may comprise third party test equipment or debugequipment, or a TAP multiplexer (TAPMux) driver that will be describedin more detail later.

On-chip, the external pins 3 to 9 are connected to a multiplexer block11 (TAPMux) which receives the inputs from the test equipment 2described above and also outputs the test output to the test equipment.The multiplexer block 11 is connected by four respective input channelsand four respective output channels to each of three TAP controllers 12,13 and 14 and a device 15. Each of the output channels 0–3 from themultiplexer block 11 to the TAP controllers and device comprises thesignals: a test clock signal tmx_TCK(n), a test mode select signaltmx_TMS(n), a test data input signal tmx_TDI(n); and a test reset signaltmx_notTRST(n). (n) indicates the channel. Each of the input channels0–3 to the multiplexer block 11 from the TAP controllers and device 15comprises a test data output signal tmx_TDO(n).

The first TAP controller 12 communicates via a first interface, that isa first data adapter 16 a (one such example of an interface is describedin European Patent No 840217 which is hereby incorporated by reference)with a device comprising a first diagnostic control unit DCU 1 18 and afirst CPU 150. In this exemplary embodiment, the first CPU 150 is of afirst type of family of CPUs. The second TAP controller 13 communicatesvia a second interface 16 b or data adapter with a second diagnosticcontrol unit DCU 2 152 and a second CPU 154 which belongs to a secondtype of family of CPUs. The third TAP controller 14 is integrallyincluded in an unit 17 which also includes a third diagnostic controlunit DCU 3 156 and a third CPU 158. The third data adapter 16 c isprovided between the TAP controller 14 and the third DCU 156. The thirdCPU 158 is of a third type or family of CPUs. The final device 15connected to the multiplexer block 11 comprises logic which mayincorporate the functionality of a TAP controller as defined by the IEEEstandard or other proprietary logic with a similar interface.

Each of the TAP Controllers, 12, 13, 14, should be regarded as optional.

It should be appreciated that the data adapters 16 a–c may be the sameor different. Likewise the DCUs 18, 152, 156 may be the same ordifferent.

In some embodiments of the invention, the data adapter and DCU structuremay be unknown to the manufacturer of the chip. This may for exampleoccur when third party proprietary circuitry is included on theintegrated circuitry.

Different CPU families may be provided by different manufacturers orsuppliers, that is third parties.

It should be appreciated that embodiments of the present have beendescribed as having four channels. It should be appreciated that inother embodiments, more or less channels may be provided. In thearrangement shown, each channel is shown as being connected to slightlydifferent elements. In other embodiments of the invention, two or morechannels may be connected to the same type of arrangement so there maybe fewer than four different types of arrangement. In other embodimentsof the invention, the channels may all be connected to the same type ofarrangement.

It should be appreciated that the four types of arrangement connected tothe four channels are by way of example and any other suitablearrangement may instead be used. The arrangements may include aprocessor, but in other embodiments of the arrangements may includeother entities such as entities for monitoring or accessing an internalbus, arbiter or other algorithmic engines. The different arrangementsmay provide quite different functions and be made up of differententities.

A TAP controller may be extended by user defined instructions, orotherwise, according to the provisions of the JTAG standard. TAPcontroller 12 may be one such example. The other TAP controllers 13 and14 could be the same or different. The device 15 will include a TAPcontroller function such as provided by the TAP controller 12 but mayform an integral part of the arrangement of the device 15.

The operation of the TAP controller in performing tests of an integratedcircuit is fully explained in IEEE 1149.1-1990. In summary, finitelength scan chains are formed on the integrated circuit such as thatformed by a chip boundary scan chain.

The TAP controller is a synchronous finite state machine defined by IEEEStandard 1149.1-1990. IEEE Standard 1149.1-1990 defines test logic whichcan be included in an integrated circuit to provide standardisedapproaches to testing the interconnections between integrated circuits,testing the integrated circuit itself, and observing or modifyingcircuit activity during the integrated circuit's normal operation.

According to the standard, during normal operation of the integratedcircuit, the TAP controller is in a reset state, and all its inputs andoutputs are inactive. When a test using the test access port accordingto IEEE Standard 1149.1-1990 is to be performed, the test access portcontroller operates according to the definitions of that standard. Insuch a test mode the test access port controller must be able to selectat least one test mode of operation. One possible test mode is a scantest mode.

Alternatively or additionally more complex scan operations may beperformed, such as scanning in data which is input to functional logicon-chip, functionally clocking the chip for one or more clock cycles,and then scanning out the outputs of the functional logic. Anyconnection points or circuitry on-chip may be connected for suchpurposes to form a scan chain. The TAP controller, in addition to beingused as a test controller for structural test of on-chip logic via scanchains, may also be used for access to internal state for the purpose ofmonitoring, control or diagnosis of the functionality or software whilstthe chip is being clocked functionally and operating normally. It isassumed that all TAP controllers 12,13,14,15 have additionalfunctionality for diagnostics and that only one TAP controller, 12, isused for structural scan testing of the chip. This may be different indifferent embodiments of the invention, where more than one TAPcontroller could be used for structural scan testing of the integratedcircuit or a different TAP controller can be used.

A full appreciation of such structural scan testing can be gathered fromreference to IEEE Standard 1149.1-1990. For specific examples of howscan testing may be performed, reference should be made to EuropeanPatent Application Publication Nos. 0698890, 0702239, 0702240, 0702241,0702242, 0702243, 0709688 in the name of this applicant which are herebyincorporated by reference.

An important aspect of the embodiment of the present invention is thatthe multiplexer block 11 in FIG. 1, not only provides the multiplexingfunction required for the diagnosis of the plurality of CPUs, but also,via connection to the TAP controller 12, allows the sequential logic(multiplexer 41—discussed in relation to FIG. 2) of itself to bestructurally scan tested.

A characteristic of known test modes using the test access port of IEEEStandard 1149.1-1990 is that the scan chain is of finite length orclosed loop, and that the test data output signal TDO is dependent onthe test data input signal TDI, and has a time relationship therewith.

In the described embodiment, the diagnostic (software testing) mode ofoperation of any one of the TAP controllers 12, 13, 14, 15, is providedfor carrying out diagnostic procedures of source/destination logicon-chip, which is compatible with IEEE Standard 1149.1-1990. In one suchdiagnostic test mode, the test data output signal TDO is not dependenton the test data input signal and does not have a time relationshiptherewith. The chain between the test data input signal TDI and the testdata output signal TDO is considered to be of infinite length, or openloop. In the diagnostic mode the TAP controller, whilst continuing toprovide all normal functionality, additionally acts as a transport agentcarrying full duplex, flow-controlled, unbounded, serial data, althoughthe TAP controller 12 is unaware that this is the form of the data.Conversely the TAP controller normally handles a single stream of data,without any flow control, passing through a selected scan chain.

An overview of the operation of the TAP controller in a test mode willnow be given. In a test mode of operation, the test data input signalTDI and the test mode select signal TMS are supplied to the TAPcontroller under control of the test clock signal TCK. A state machinewithin the TAP controller acts upon the value of the test mode selectsignal TMS on each active edge of the test clock signal TCK to cyclethrough its states accordingly as defined by IEEE Standard 1149.1-1990.The test reset signal notTRST provides for asynchronous initialisationof the TAP controller when in a low logic state in accordance with IEEEStandard 1149.1-1990.

Instructions are loaded in serial fashion from the test data inputsignal TDI, clocked by the test clock TCK. In accordance with theinstruction stored, one of either the scan test mode SCANMODE signal orthe diagnostic mode signal DIAGMODE will be set depending on whether itis a scan test or a diagnostic test which is to be performed.

In another mode of test operation, it may be required that the TAPcontroller of a particular target device merely connect the test datainput signal TDI to the test data output signal TDO.

If the test mode to be carried out is a scan test mode, then the TAPController sets the scan test signal SCANMODE 59 (FIG. 2). In this case,the scan output data SCANOUT is output as the test data output signalTDO. During such a scan mode test data is scanned into the selected scanchain on the scan input signal SCANIN 53 (FIG. 2) which is connecteddirectly to the test data input signal TDI. Scan testing, in particularboundary scan testing, is fully described in IEEE Standard 1149.1—1990.It will be appreciated that additional control signals, in accordancewith the test to be performed, need to be supplied to the selected scanchain to achieve the required test operation.

A diagnostic mode may also be entered, in which case the TAP controllersets the diagnostic signal DIAGMODE. Furthermore, the TAP controllerwill connect the diagnostic or scan mode output signal DIAGSCANOUT tothe TDO output, clocked by the negative clock edge of TCK.

In diagnostic mode, the serial data flow between the test data inputsignal TDI and the test data output signal TDO may be considered to passthrough a shift register of infinite length as opposed to the scan testmode, in which mode the serial data flow is through a shift register(shift register chain) of finite length. In the diagnostic mode, asequence of bit patterns shifted into the test access port as the testdata input signal TDI are not reflected in the sequence of bit patternsshifted out of the test access port as the test data output signal. Thecommunication of diagnostic data may include memory access requests fromhost to target and target to host (reads and writes); status informationof CPU registers; data read from host memory or target memory inresponse to a memory access request; status data for loading into CPUregisters; and information about memory addresses being accessed by thetarget CPU. Thus the diagnostic mode may involve non-intrusivemonitoring of data, or intrusive loading of data.

In the diagnostic mode the serial data shifted into the test access portis a uni-directional serial data stream which can be encoded in anydesired means, for example, with start and stop bits to delineate datachunks. Likewise, data shifted out via the test access port is auni-directional serial data stream which can be encoded in any desiredmeans, for example with start and stop bits to delineate data chunks.Normally the data shifted in and the data shifted out will be encoded inthe same way. The input and output uni-directional data streams may beused simultaneously to allow full-duplex, bidirectional, serialcommunications. The sequence of serial data bits could constitute a byteof information.

It should be appreciated that the in the embodiment of the presentinvention is independent of the mechanism in any one of the TAPcontrollers 12,13,14,15 for accessing functional logic, such as a CPU,for diagnostic or similar purposes. The mechanism may be via adiagnostic mode, as described above, or may be via one or more scanchains designed in some other way to carry diagnostic information. Theonly requirement is that each of the TAP controllers 12,13,14,15 has aJTAG interface conformant with the standard, except as outlined below.

The multiplexer block 11 in FIG. 1 is designed to multiplex ordemultiplex communications between the external pins 3–7 of theintegrated circuit 10 and the four channels as will now be explainedwith reference to FIG. 2. FIG. 2 shows the multiplexer block 11according to one embodiment of the present invention. The four inputpins TCK, notTRST, TMS and TDI 3 to 6, which have already been describedare connected to a bus 40. The bus 40 is connected to a ‘multiplexed in’input 160 of a first multiplexer 41, and to one of two data inputs of asecond multiplexer 42. The block marked 41 is in preferred embodimentsof the invention is more that a simple multiplexer and containssynchronous (clocked) logic. The other parts of the multiplexer block 11are purely combinatorial logic. The multiplexer 41 has state and memoryand is the only part of the multiplexer block 11 to do so.

The other data input of the second multiplexer 42 is connected to thechannel 0 output of the first multiplexer 41. The output of the secondmultiplexer 42 forms the channel 0 output from the multiplexer block 11shown in FIG. 1. The external pins 8 and 9 provide optional additionalcontrol information to multiplexer 11 in certain modes, that is thebypass select signals 0 and 1 respectively.

The channel 0 input signal is fed to both the channel 0 input on thefirst multiplexer 41 and to one of the two data inputs of a thirdmultiplexer 43. The other data input to the third multiplexer 43 comesfrom a ‘multiplexed out’ output 162 of the first multiplexer 41.

The first multiplexer 41 has another three channel outputs, channels 1,2 and 3, which correspond to the output channels 1, 2 and 3 shown inFIG. 1. The three channel inputs, channels 1, 2 and 3 also correspond tothe multiplexer block input channels 1, 2 and 3 shown in FIG. 1. Insummary, the first multiplexer 41 has inputs for each of the fourchannels and outputs for each of the four channels. The firstmultiplexer provides a multiplexing and a de-multiplexing function. Thechannel outputs 1–3, although not shown are made up of the same signalsas for channel 0, that is tmx_TCK(n), tmx_notTRST(n), tmx_TD(n). Thechannel n inputs to the multiplexer all comprise tmx_TDO(n).

It should be appreciated that in practice the Channel 1, 2 and 3 inputsare also connected to the input of third multiplexer 43.

The multiplexer 41 contains sequential logic and performs multiplexingaccording its internal state and clocked by TCK. Four additionalmultiplexers, 42, 49, 50 and 51, allow multiplexer 41 to be bypassed andoperate by purely combinatorial logic. Multiplexers 44, 50 and 51 areassociated with channels 1, 2 and 3 respectively and function in asimilar way to multiplexer 42, as described previously. When multiplexer41 is bypassed, only one of the multiplexers 42, 49, 50 or 51 may be setsuch that there is a single channel connected with the external pins3–7.

In practice, the bypass described for channel 0 can be carried out forany of the other channels. There may in some embodiments be an exceptionto this. As will be described in more detail hereinafter one of thechannels, channel 0, may be the default master. The default master isthe channel selected after reset. This is because this channel containsthe master TAP controller 12 for hardware testing. In differentembodiments, a different TAP controller may act as the master TAPcontroller.

The bus 40 further provides the inputs of a four-input OR gate 44. Inparticular, the inputs to the OR gate 44 are the TCK, notTRST, TMS andTDI signals. The output of OR gate 44 is a reset signal and is connectedvia a de-glitch block 45 to one of the inputs of the first multiplexer41 for reset purposes. It should be appreciated that whilst the resetcondition is encoded on a plurality of signals which is decoded by ORgate 44, it is possible that this reset condition is accidentallydecoded during otherwise legal transitions between signalling states onthe signals received on pins 3–6, and this would be seen as a glitch,that is a very short duration pulse, on an otherwise stable decode ofnormal operation, being anything other than the reset condition. Thede-glitch block 45 prevents such spurious glitches from accidentallycausing a reset of multiplexer 41 during normal operation, by filteringpulses shorter than a specified duration.

The inputs to the logic block 46 are a bypass signal bypass_mode 47 fromthe first multiplexer 41, bypass selection signals 59 also from thefirst multiplexer 41, and a test scan mode signal tst_scanmode 48 usedif the multiplexer block 11 is to be scan tested. Bypass selectionsignals are provided by three wires—one to indicate “select by sequence”and two more to indicate which channel. This will be discussed in moredetail hereinafter.

The output of the logic block 46 controls the multiplexers 42, 49, 50and 51 that are used to determine which one, if any, of the channels 0to 3 are selected to bypass multiplexer 41.

Three further connections to the first multiplexer 41 are a scan testenable signal tst_scanenable 52 which is an output from the master TAPcontroller 12, a test scan input signal tst_scanin 53 and a test scanoutput signal tst_scanout 54, which are used if and when the multiplexerblock 11 is required to be scan tested. A test control signal tst_rst_non line 55 is connected to the multiplexers 42,49–51 also for use duringa scan test. It should be appreciated that in some embodiments of theinvention these scan test signals may come from master TAP controller.

In one mode of operation, bypass mode, one channel may be selected bythe channel selection input signals BYPASS_SELECT0 and BYPASS_SELECT1which originate off-chip at the test equipment 2. To select one of fourchannels, a two bit signal is provided which provides four differentbinary signal combinations, 00, 01, 10 and 11. Using one of these fourcombinations, one of the four channels is selected. This control is usedto select to which channel a connection is made by the multiplexer blockfor signals going to and/or from the respective TAP controller ordevice. The two bits providing the selection signal BYPASS_SELECT0 andBYPASS_SELECT1 are provided by respective input pins of the integratedcircuit. In this mode, bypass mode, selection of the one channel bythese input selection signals, known as “selection by pins”, can beoverridden by “selection by sequence” described next.

Also in the same mode of operation, bypass mode, one channel may beselected by the output of a finite state machine (FSM) indicatedschematically as bypass selector 56 internal to multiplexer 41, theoutput of which depends upon a sequential signalling of the four inputsignals TCK, notTRST, TMS and TDI. In particular, the FSM is arranged toreceive an “illegal” sequence of the four input signals. By illegal itis meant that the combination of the four input signals is not definedas in the JTAG standard and has no meaning in the context of the JTAGstandard. This illegal combination of signals is used by the FSM 56 toput into such a mode that the next combination of input signals willdefine which of the channels is to be selected. In some embodiments ofthe present invention, one or more additional signal combinations willbe required between the first illegal combination and the signalcombination which defines the channel which is to be selected. Thecombination which is to select the channel required may also be anillegal combination of signals as may be any intervening signalcombinations. This will be described in more detail hereinafter. The FSM56 provides a two bit signal, “selection_by_sequence”, which overrides“selection by pins” described previously.

In other words, some embodiments of the present invention will haveselection by sequence only, some embodiments of the invention will haveselection by pins and some embodiments will have both selection by pinsand selection by sequence. Where both selection by pins and selection bysequence are provided, arbitration will be provided by logic 46 whichreceives the bypass select signals 0 and 1, and the bypass select bysequence signals. Depending on the implementation, one or other of thesignals is give priority. Preferred embodiments have selection bysequence given priority over selection by pins.

It should also be appreciated that the number of bits required for thecontrol signal for controlling the bypass mode will depend on the numberof channels. Furthermore, in cases where external chip pins are at apremium, the bypass_select pins 8,9 may be omitted entirely relyingpurely on “bypass by sequence” to select the one channel in bypass mode.

In embodiments of the present invention the host computer 1 may access,almost simultaneously, any of the devices such as CPUs 150, 154 and 158,for example, on-chip. This is achieved by the circuit of FIG. 2, theoperation of which will now be explained in more detail, referring alsoto FIGS. 3 and 4.

A requirement of one embodiment is that the target chip may be testedaccording to the IEEE standard. According to the IEEE JTAG standard, thesignal reset notTRST must be high for any operation to take place. FIG.3 shows a state transition diagram according to an embodiment of thepresent invention and FIG. 4 shows the corresponding signals in a table.There are three states or modes of operation, Bypass Mode, Alert mode,and Multiplex Mode. It should be appreciated that in addition to thesethree operating modes, structural test is also supported. Followingsuccessful decode of the TAPMux reset condition, irrespective of anyprevious state, the bypass mode will be entered. The bypass signal 47(FIG. 2—signal 47 is between the multiplexer 41 and logic 46) will gohigh, and the bypass_selection signal 59 for “select by sequence” willbe inactive.

Referring to FIG. 2, when the bypass signal 47 goes high indicating thatthe bypass mode is to be entered, logic block 46 will cause multiplexers42,43,49,50,51 to bypass the first multiplexer 41. The master TAPcontroller 12 on channel 0 is thus selected for all communication whilstin bypass mode, unless another channel is selected by means of thebypass select pins 8 and 9. The multiplexer block 11 will appeartransparent and will not add any clock latency to either transmit dataor to receive data.

For other modes of operation the system makes use of illegal signalcombinations in the IEEE standard. A standard TAP controller, withoutthe features of embodiments of the present invention, will be in a resetmode whenever the reset signal nTRST is low. In embodiments of thepresent invention, whilst the reset signal nTRST is low, other modes ofoperation may be entered. In the preferred embodiment shown in FIG. 3,the reset of the multiplexer block 11 occurs when all four inputs TCK,notTRST, TMS and TDI are low. This enables the reset notTRST input pinto be used for data when the system is not in multiplexer block reset,provided that all of the other three input pins are not low together.The reset of the multiplexer block 41 is implemented by the four-inputOR gate 44 and de-glitch block 45. When the multiplexer block 11 resetoccurs, i.e. all four inputs TCK, notTRST, TMS and TDI are low, the ORgate 44 causes the reset signal to go low, and the system returns tobypass mode.

Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, the multiplexer 41 remains in bypass mode ifthe selected channel is reset, by asserting notTRST low, for normal TAPoperation of the selected channel if nTRST is high, or if calibration isselected, by asserting notTRST low, TMS high and TDI high. If notTRST islow, TMS is low and TDI is high on the rising edge of the clock TCK,then the alert mode is entered. In the alert mode, the multiplex mode isentered if notTRST is low, TMS is high and TDI is low on the rising edgeof the clock, otherwise if notTRST is high, the “select by sequence”channel is selected according to the state of TMS and TDI, and themultiplexer 41 returns to bypass mode. Once multiplex mode is entered,it remains until a valid reset is detected in which case bypass mode isentered.

In bypass mode, assuming first of all that there is no “selection bysequence” made by the FSM within the multiplexer 41, then the logicblock 46 will allow the input pins 8 and 9 to select the channel. If nosignals are provided on the input pins BYPASS_SELECT0 andBYPASS_SELECT1, maybe because the test equipment 2 cannot supply thesesignals, then a Master will be selected as the default device for test,which in this case is the first device 18 on channel 0. On the otherhand, if signals are provided to the two input pins BYPASS_SELECT0 andBYPASS_SELECT1, then a channel will be selected that overrides theMaster. Depending on the multiplexer settings, any combination ofsignals on pins BYPASS_SELECT0 and BYPASS_SELECT1 could select any ofthe channels, but in a preferred embodiment channels are selected asshown in the following table:

TABLE 1 Input/Output BYPASS_SELECT1 BYPASS_SELECT0 Channel 0 0 0 0 1 1 10 2 1 1 3

In bypass mode, with channel 0 selected, the chip may be structurallyscan tested as defined by the IEEE JTAG standard. The test equipment 2will provide the clock signal TCK, reset signal notTRST, TMS and testdata in signal TDI, according the IEEE JTAG standard, to the respectiveinput pins of the integrated circuit chip 10. These signals are passedto the multiplexer block 11, where they are fed to the ‘multiplexed in’input of the first multiplexer via bus 40. The second multiplexer 42receives a low signal at its control terminal from the logic block 46,thus selecting the channel 0 path from the first multiplexer 41.

Furthermore, in bypass mode, the test equipment 2 may provide inputsignals BYPASS_SELECT0 and BYPASS_SELECT1 to the respective pins of theintegrated circuit chip, in order to select any one of the on-chiptarget devices for monitoring, configuration or diagnosis. Otherwise thedefault will be to select the master, in this case on channel 0.

In bypass mode, when diagnosis of a device on one channel is complete, amultiplexer block reset may be applied, and then a different channel maybe selected for diagnosis using the input pins 8 and 9, the “select bypins” mechanism, or by using the “select by sequence” mechanism.Alternatively the same target device may be the subject of furtherdiagnosis.

The diagram of FIG. 3 and table of FIG. 4 can be summarised as follows:

Regardless of the current mode the Bypass mode is entered if the allsignals are low.

In the bypass mode, there can be TAP reset for selected channel,calibration or normal TAP operation for the selected bypass channel.This will depend on the values of nTRST, TMS and TDI on a rising TCK.The associated values are shown in FIG. 4.

The alert mode will be entered from the bypass mode if nTRST and TMS are0 and TDI is 1 on the rising TCK.

From the alert mode, the multiplex mode can be entered if nTRST and TDIare 0 and TMS is 0 on the rising TCK. The bypass mode can also beentered from the alert mode. On a rising TCK, nTRST will be high and thevalues of TMS and TDI will define the channel.

In the multiplex mode, multiplex mode signalling will take place. It isonly possible to leave the multiplex mode if all the signals are 0 andthat means that the next mode is the bypass mode.

It should be apparent that diagnosis of any device on one of thechannels, on a one at a time basis, does not allow for diagnosis ofinteractions between the devices on the separate channels. The multiplexmode allows for interaction between the external equipment and allavailable channels almost simultaneously.

In multiplex mode, up to four hosts 113,114,115,166 may be connected viaan external driver 112, where each host is used to diagnoseindependently, but almost simultaneously, channels 0,1,2,3 respectively.This is described in more detail hereinafter with reference to FIG. 9.

Alternatively, in the preferred embodiment, in multiplex mode, a singlehost computer 1, may simultaneously diagnose all devices on the chip.This is particularly important where the interactions between thevarious on-chip devices need to be understood and coordinated, and thisis best achieved using a single host managing all devices in concert.However, it should be appreciated that the development of the controlsoftware on the single host computer is considerable more complex thatfor separate hosts. For this reason, a further embodiment of the presentinvention which makes use of separate hosts and an external driver 112,is described first.

In this further embodiment of the present invention, more than one hostmay access the integrated circuit 10 in order to test a device, as shownin FIG. 8. FIG. 8 shows an integrated circuit 10, which is the same asintegrated circuit 10 shown in FIG. 1, 11 and will not be describedagain. Off-chip, the test equipment has been replaced by a multiplexerblock driver 112 designed to allow multiple host computers 113–116access to the connection pins TCK, nTRST, TMS, TDI and TDO. Third-partytest equipment would also be compatible with the integrated circuit.

So far circuits have been described for diagnosing target CPUs or targetlogic on the integrated circuit chip singularly. There is, however, acall for a method and circuitry that allows a number of targets to bediagnosed in unison and more particularly their interaction. Accordingto the embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 8, one, two, three orfour of the targets 150, 154 158, 15 may be diagnosed at the same timeby one, two, three or four of the hosts 113–116 respectively.

FIG. 9 shows the multiplexer block driver 112 according to an embodimentof the present invention. Four ‘first in/first out’ (FIFO) buffer andsynchronizer blocks 61–64 each receive signals TCK, notTRST, TMS and TDIfrom their respective host 113, 114, 115 or 116 (shown in FIG. 8). Eachalso has a TDO output to their respective host. The FIFO synchronizerblocks 61–64 are clocked by a separate clock clk 65, and providebuffering and synchronization to the signals received from the hostcomputers. A time division multiplex demultiplex block 66 receivessignals from the FIFO synchronizer blocks 61–64 via respective encodeblocks 67–70, and returns signals to each of the FIFO synchronizerblocks via respective decode blocks 71–74. The encode and decode blocksallow a coding scheme to be used for communications between themultiplexer block driver 112 and the multiplexer block 11 on-chip aswill be explained in more detail later. The multiplex demultiplex block66 outputs signals notTRST, TMS and TDI to the integrated circuit 10,and receives signal TDO from the integrated circuit 10. It also receivesas controls a signal on line 75 from a block Init seq 164 which ensuresthat the multiplexer block 11 enters the multiplex mode following reset,a reset signal rst_n on line 76 and the clock signal clk 65. The clocksignal clk 65 is also fed as a fourth input signal TCK to the integratedcircuit 10.

The reset signal rst_n and clock signal clk are input to each of theFIFO synchroniser blocks and to each of the encode and decode blocks.

The multiplexer block driver 112 performs a number of functions.Primarily it performs time division multiplexing of the input signalsfrom hosts 113–116 onto the output lines notTRST, TMS and TDI. Forexample, if host 113, host 114, host 115 and host 116 wish to accesschannels 0, 1, 2 and 3 respectively, then the four TDI signals from thefour hosts are required to be time multiplexed onto the single outputTDI. The available bandwidth on the output line TDI could be dividedgiving one host a greater share of the bandwidth than another host. Forexample host 113 may have access to half of the available bandwidth onthe TDI connection. Host 114, 115, and 116 may each have ⅙ of thebandwidth on line TDI for signals that will be multiplexed to channels1, 2 and 3 on the integrated circuit 10 respectively. The same timemultiplexing will be applied to the output signals nTRST and TMS fromthe multiplexer block driver 112.

The time division multiplexing is advantageous in that it providesflexibility and allows the synchronising of channels. By using theslots, it is possible in some embodiments of the present invention toavoid the need for channel tags which would indicate the channel forwhich the data is intended. This is because it can be determined that ifthe data is in slot n, then the data must be channel x and so on. Thismeans that bandwidth is not overloaded with channel information tags orthe like.

It should be appreciated that the share assigned to each channel can bechanged depending on how much of the bandwidth is required by thecurrent diagnostic conditions. The multiplexer block driver 112 alsoperforms time division demultiplexing of the input signal TDO from theintegrated circuit 10. TDO will be sent to the required host having beendecoded by one of the decode blocks 71–74 and being passed through oneof the FIFO synchronizer blocks 61–64.

FIG. 10 shows the multiplexer block 41 in more detail. This blockreceives the signals TCK, notTRST, TMS and TDI from the multiplexerblock driver 112 in the embodiment shown in FIG. 9. It should beappreciated that the multiplexer block 41 of FIG. 10 can be used in theembodiment of FIG. 1. The signals TCK, notTRST, TMS and TDI areconnected via a bus 140 to a multiplex Mode Detect block 80, a TokenDecode block 81 and to a Time Division Multiplex/Demultiplex block 82.An output TDO from the multiplex/demultiplex block 82 is fed to theoutput line 83. The multiplex/demultiplex block 82 performs timedivision demultiplexing of the signals from input pins notTRST, TMS andTDI onto output respective output lines on channels 0, 1, 2 and 3. Theoutput to each of the four channels is decoded by one of the four decodeblocks 84–87, and the inputs to the multiplexer block from each of thefour channels is encoded by one of the four encode blocks 88–91. Themultiplexer block 82 also performs multiplexing of the signals receivedfrom channels 0, 1, 2 and 3, this output being fed off-chip to themultiplexer block driver via the output pin TDO. Channel 0 is shown withseparate signals. Channels 1–3 have same structure but this is notshown.

Whilst in the multiplex mode, data between the multiplexer block driverand the multiplexer block 11 may be sent at twice the data rate from therate defined by the IEEE Standard 1149.1 1990. Reference is made to FIG.7 which shows a timing diagram for signals in normal TAP mode, and inmultiplex mode. According to the IEEE 1149.1 JTAG Standard, only ahalf-period is allowed for the return of TDO data to the host, before itis clocked by the test clock TCK, as shown by arrow 90. Therefore,without imposing any tighter restrictions on the connectivity betweenthe test equipment and the target, data (TDI or TDO) can be clocked onboth the rising and the falling edge of TCK. Circuitry for implementingthis feature is shown in FIG. 12 a.

FIG. 12 a shows circuitry that could be incorporated in the multiplexerblock driver and the multiplexer block respectively in order to clockdata at twice the normal rate. Block 200 is circuitry that combines twodata lines A1 and B1 onto a single line AB. The signal AB represents asignal where for half a clock cycle, the signal is defined by the dataon data line A1 and the following half clock cycle, the signal isdefined by the data on data line B1. Data on lines A1 and B1 representone of the signals TDI, TMS or notTRST from two of the host computers,which is destined for two of the target devices on-chip. Line A1 isconnected to the data input of a first D-type flip-flop 201, and line B1is connected to the data input of a second D-type flip-flop 202. Each ofthe flip-flops 201,202 has a clock input, connected to a common clocksignal clk signal. The output of the first flip-flop 201 is connected tothe data input of a third flip-flop 203, which is clocked by the fallingedge of the same clock signal clk. The outputs of the second and thirdflip-flops 202,203 are connected to the two inputs of a multiplexer 204,the output of the multiplexer 204 forming the signal AB to be sent onone of the lines to the integrated circuit board. In this embodiment themultiplexer 204 is controlled by the clock signal clk.

Block 205 splits the signal on line AB back into two separate signals A2and B2 to be sent to selected target devices. Line AB is connected tothe data inputs of first and second D-type flip-flops 206 and 207. Boththe first and second flip-flops 206,207 have clock inputs connected to acommon clock signal clk, but the first flip-flop 206 is clocked by thefalling clock edge, and the second flip-flop 207 by the rising edge.This is achieved in that the first flip flop 206 receives the inverse ofthe clock signal while the second flip flop 207 receives the clocksignal, not inverted. The output from the first flip-flop 206 isconnected to the data input of a third D-type flip-flop 208, which isclock by the positive edge of clock signal clk. The outputs A2 and B2from the first and third flip-flops are delayed versions of the inputson lines A1 and B1.

Data on lines C1 and D1 represents the return signal TDO from two of thetarget devices on-chip, destined to two of the host computers. Block 209performs in the same way as block 200 described above, having the samestructure and function. Block 210 performs in the same way as block 205as described above, having the same structure and function. The outputsC2 and D2 are delayed versions of the signals C1 and D1.

The operation of the circuitry in FIG. 12 a will now be described withreference to the timing diagram shown in FIG. 14. The timing diagramshows the clock signal and the signals on lines A1, B1, AB, A2 and B2respectively. Propagation delays between the multiplexer block driverand the multiplexer block have been omitted for clarity. The signals onlines A1 and B1 consist of data a0, a1, . . . and b0, b1, . . .respectively as shown. Line B1 is clocked by flip flop 202 on the risingclock edge 220 of the clock signal CLK, and whilst the clock signal CLKis high data b0 is output from the multiplexer 204 on output line AB.Line A1 is clocked by flip flop 201 on the rising edge 220 of the clocksignal CLK, and this output is then clocked again by flip flop 203 onthe falling edge 221 of the clock signal CLK. When the clock signal CLKis low, multiplexer 204 outputs data a0 on the line AB and when it ishigh data b0 output.

The receiving block 205 then operates as follows. Line AB is clocked byflip-flop 207 on the rising edge 222 of the clock signal CLK. Thereforethe data a0 is output shortly after the rising clock edge 222 on linea2. The signal on line AB is also clocked by flip flop 206 on thefalling edge 221 of the CLK signal, and this output is again clocked byflip flop 208 on the rising edge 222 of the clock signal CLK. Thereforethe data b0 is output on line b2 shortly after this clock edge.

FIG. 13 shows two possible formats of data signals 230 and 231 betweenthe multiplexer block driver 112 and the multiplexer block 11 which canbe used in different embodiments. TCK is the test clock signal used toclock the data at the multiplexer block. The signal 230 shows thataccording to an embodiment one data item for a particular channel couldbe sent to the multiplexer block 11 during each clock period. Each dataitem is assigned a slot number, eight slots making up a frame. In thisway, without the need for extra control signals, the destinations foreach of the slots in a frame can be allocated once, and then rememberedfor subsequent frames. It should be appreciated that in alternativeembodiments of the present invention the slots can be allocated on aframe by frame basis or every n frames or any combination of thesedescribed options.

Preferably data is sent at double the data rate as described above,shown by signal 231. In this case a frame consists of sixteenhalf-slots, each allocated to a particular channel. The embodiments ofthe present invention are arranged to provide signalling at double thedata rate but without increasing the bandwidth or the critical timingpaths.

Operation whilst in Multiplex mode will now be described. The Multiplexmode detect block 80 shown in FIG. 10 detects the combination of signalsrequired to enter Multiplex mode via alert mode as shown in FIGS. 3 and4. The signal ‘Multiplex_mode’ is used to direct all communications onbus 140 via a Multiplex block 82, and also all communications fromchannels 0,1,2 and 3 via the multiplex block 82. The token decode block81 decodes tokens received from the multiplexer block driver block 112.

A token coding scheme is implemented in a preferred embodiment of theinvention, in order that control signals for controlling the multiplexerblock 82 can be sent from the multiplexer block driver block 112, aswell as the normal test signals, without the requirement for additionalpins.

FIG. 15 shows a preferred scheme in which a frame consists of 8 tokensreceived in series. Each token is divided into two half tokens. Eachhalf token may be allocated to a particular channel 0 to 3. In theexample shown, channel 0 is allocated half of the available half-tokens,equivalent to half of the available bandwidth. Channel 1 is allocatedone quarter of the available half-tokens, equivalent to one quarter ofthe available bandwidth. Channels 2 and 3 are each allocated one eighthof the available half-tokens, equivalent to one eighth of the availablebandwidth per channel. It should be appreciated that in preferredembodiments of the present invention, the two half tokens making up eachtoken are allocated to different channels. It should be appreciated thatthe division of the channels between the tokens is by way of exampleonly and different divisions of the channels between the tokens can beused, depending of the relative bandwidths required by the differentchannels. It should be appreciated that the allocation of tokens torespective channels in the frame can be the same from frame to frame asmentioned above or can be changed dynamically. It should also beappreciated that no data can be transferred for a particular slot whilstits allocation is changed, noting that in one embodiment, the slot inone frame is required to deallocate the slot and a slot in a further oneframe is required to allocate the slot to another channel.

FIG. 11 shows an encoding scheme implemented by an embodiment of thepresent invention whilst in multiplexer mode. The left-hand half of thetable 240 shows the encoded six bits of a token. The right-hand half ofthe table 241 shows the decoded output to be sent to one or more of thechannels 0–3, and the significance of this output. A token consists ofsix bits, received on lines notTRST, TMS and TDI. The first three bitsof a token are received on the falling edge of TCK and second three bitsare received on the rising edge of TCK.

The first line 242 in the table shows that whenever zeros are capturedon the rising edge of TCK for all three of the inputs, Multiplexer blockreset is performed. This implies that all of the output signals to thefour channels are low.

The five lines 243 of the table show combinations that are not used inthis embodiment but could be allocated to different functions.

The lines 244, 245 are relevant if a particular half slot is not alreadyallocated to a channel. Preferably a channel allocation register storesthe allocated channels for each of the 16 half-slots in an 8 tokenframe. Using the system of frames, both the multiplexer block on-chipand the multiplexer block driver off-chip are aware at what point withina particular frame they are at any point in time during communication.Therefore, as the multiplexer block receives each half-token in a frame,it is able to verify whether or not that particular half-slot has beenallocated to a channel by referring to the area within the channelallocation register assigned to that slot. If a channel has not beenallocated, and if notTRST is high, the values sent on lines TMS and TDIindicate the desired channel for that particular half-slot. The two bitsC1 on line TMS and C2 on line TDI designate a channel as shown in thefollowing table:

TABLE 2 Input/Output C2 C1 Channel 0 0 0 0 1 1 1 0 2 1 1 3

The same scheme is used for the first half and the second half of eachslot. Lines 244 and 245 are not used if a slot has been allocated.

Lines 246–249 in the table show the significance of the received signalswhen a half-slot has been allocated to a channel. Whilst notTRST is low,the target devices can be reset (notTRST on each channel made low) byasserting TMS high and TDI low.

Whilst notTRST is low, half-slots may be deallocated channels. Thechannel for a current slot can be deallocated by asserting TMS and TDIhigh, as shown on line 248 of the table. When this is implemented, thechannel allocation register will be updated, and the next time data forthat slot is received (with notTRST high) the values of TMS and TDI willallocate a new channel.

When a half-slot has been allocated, and notTRST is high, the signalsTMS and TDI, labelled M and D on line 249 of the table, are used for thedata associated with the test. Data is received on both the falling andrising clock edges of the clock signal TCK. This data is outputted tochannels on the rising clock edge of the clock signal TCK. As mentionedabove, in embodiments of the invention, the two half-slots of a tokenmay not be allocated to the same channel, as output data to a channelmay only be clocked by the rising edge of the clock signal TCK, andtherefore not at the double rate at which it is received.

A requirement of the system is that each target device on chip isdiagnosed at the same time. However, if the clock signal TCK istransmitted on each of the channels, for periods when a particularchannel is not allocated to a slot, erroneous zeros would be clocked bythe target device. To avoid this, the clock signal TCK is dividedbetween the channels, such that only when data is available will thetarget device clock data. Whilst there is no data available for aparticular channel, the clock signal TCK will not be asserted, andtherefore the device will remain in an idle state awaiting the nextclock signal.

Referring back to FIGS. 9 and 10, the encode and decode blocks 67–74 inFIG. 9, and the encode and decode blocks 84–91 in FIG. 10 perform theencoding and decoding of signals as described above.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, an over-samplingtechnique is used during all communication between the test equipment ormultiplexer block driver and the multiplexer block or multiplexer block2 block on-chip, as will now be described.

A solution using over-sampling are discussed in more detail inco-pending European Patent Application EP 01307925.6, which is herebyincorporated by reference.

The use of over-sampling in the present invention will now be describedwith reference to FIGS. 5 and 6. Oversampling logic is used to counterthe effects of the delay loop between the test equipment and the TAPMux,without requiring a reduction in the clock frequency. Oversampling iswhere for any given period of time more samples of the desired data arecaptured than are required and only the data sample or samples whichhave been determined to be valid are passed on to subsequent logic.

Reference will now be made to FIG. 5 which shows circuitry foroversampling according to one possible embodiment. The circuitry shownin FIG. 5 is incorporated in the test equipment. The TDO signal receivedat the test equipment is fed into a chain of delay elements 400–408.Each delay element has an output connected to a respective flip-flop416–418. Additionally there is a further flip-flop which has an inputfrom an un-delayed version of the TDO signal. Thus each flip-flopreceives the TDO signal with different amounts of delay. Each flip-flop410–418 has their respective output connected to a multiplexer 420. Themultiplexer 420 is controlled by a controller 422 which selects one ofthe versions of the TDO to be output. The control circuitry may compriseedge detection circuitry for determining the version of signal TDO to beoutput, be provided by software or may be provided by manualcalibration. In a calibration mode, a known sequence of data is appliedand the output is considered. Effectively a trial and error process iscarried out to determine which is the appropriate version of TDO.

The delay elements may take any suitable form and may for examplecomprise two inverters in series or any other suitable circuitry.

In an alternative embodiment, the TDO signals may be input to a seriesof flip-flops, with none of the TDO signals being delayed. Instead, theclock signal which is input to the flip-flops will each have a differentdelay. The outputs of the flip-flops would be output to a multiplexerwhich would have similar control circuitry as already described.

The principle behind the embodiment of the invention and themodification described will now be discussed in relation to FIG. 6.

The function of the edge detector 440 will now be explained withreference to FIG. 6. FIG. 6 shows a test clock signal TCK.

The test data TDO′ received at the test equipment may have a transitionsometime within a clock cycle of the test clock signal. Case 1represents test data which has a transition during one part of a clockcycle and case 2 represents test data which has a transition duringanother part of the clock cycle. Case 1 represents one version of TDOinput to a flip-flop in FIG. 5 and case 2 represents another version ofTDO input to a flip-flop in FIG. 5, with a different delay. The part ofthe signals TDO marked with hatching represents that part of the signalwhere there is uncertainty as to whether the value of the has changed.In embodiments of the invention there may only be two cases or asillustrated in FIG. 5 there may be more than two cases. The number ofcases in a matter of design choice and may be any suitable number equalto two or more.

The oversampling for each of these two cases is illustrated. In thisexample, it is assumed that data is read on the rising clock edge. Inalternative embodiments of the invention, the data may be read on thefalling clock edge or on both the rising and falling clock edges. In thecase of the case 1 a first sample S1 is taken on the rising edge of theTCK signal. At this point, there may be a transition and so the datacannot be read with certainty. This is also true for the second sampleread at the next clock edge. It should be appreciated that the number ofsamples which are taken is a matter of design choice.

The sampling for the second case is illustrated and samples are taken atthe same time as for the first sample. For the first and second samplest1 and t2, the results can be validly read.

Thus the output of the multiplexer would be selected to be case 2 data.The control unit 422 would select the case 2 version of TDO to beoutput. It should be appreciated that alternative embodiments of thepresent invention can use any other suitable method for determiningwhich version of the TDO to output. For example, a double rate clock maybe used with double data rate cases. In this case samples being taken oneach rising and falling edge being taken. This allows the appropriatecase of TDO to be output. It should be appreciated that this can beapplied in an analogous way to the version of this embodiment which usesdelayed versions of the clock signal.

The procedure carried out by the edge detector, calibration or the likeused by the control unit 422 determines if the data received TDO′ fallsinto the category defined by the first case or into the category definedby the second case. In some embodiments, the clock signal to be used canbe determined. For example some systems may use the clock signal TCK andits inverse. It can be determined which of these clock signals to use.In this latter modification, it would be necessary to take samples onthe falling edges of the clock signal as well as the rising clock edgeto identify the appropriate version of data and the appropriate clockingedge of the clocking signal.

Reference is made to FIG. 12 b which shows the embodiment of FIG. 12 amodified to include oversampling. In particular block 210 has beenmodified and this is shown in FIG. 12 b. In this arrangement, TDO isinput in an undelayed form to the first flip-flop 427. TDO is then inputto a chain of delay elements comprising a first delay element 424 and426. An output of each of the delay elements is input to second andthird flip-flops respectively. In other words each of the threeflip-flops receives a version of TDO with a differing amount of delay.Each of the flip-flops also receives the same clock signals. Each of theflip-flops provides an output to a first multiplexer 434 and to a secondmultiplexer 436. The first multiplexer provides output C2 and the secondmultiplexer provides output D2. It should be appreciated thatappropriate control circuitry (not shown) is provided to control whichflip-flop output is provided as an output of the multiplexer circuitry.It should be appreciated that in some embodiments more than two delayelements and three flip-flops may be provided. The alternativesdescribed in relation to FIG. 5 may also be applied here.

In the preferred embodiments of the present invention shown in FIGS. 1and 8, the TAP controllers and multiplexer block 11 are fully scantestable. In particular embodiment of the invention, the multiplexerblock 11 supports scan testing. For scan testing, the signals for scantesting need to go through block to be tested. The logic in the TAPmultiplexer 11 can be considered to be bypass combinatorial logic andsequential logic. The bypass combinatorial logic is marked 157 in FIG. 2and comprises deglitch block 45, logic 46, multiplexers 42 and 42 and ORgate 44. The sequential logic is provided by multiplexer 41.

In the test scan mode, signals input via pins 3 to 7 are connected tothe master TAP controller via the bypass combinatorial logic. The masterTAP controller is used to hardware test the logic 154, 158 etc. In otherwords the TAP controllers 13–14 are not used, only the master TAPcontroller.

In particular, one of the TAP controllers is defined as the master TAPcontroller. Preferably the master TAP controller performs the structuraltest (in addition to debug of a particular CPU), and is connected tochannel 0. Referring to FIG. 2, the signals tst_scanmode,tst_scanenable, tst_scanin and tst_rst_n are fed to the TAPMux block 11from the Master TAP controller 12. When the signal scan_mode is assertedhigh, scan mode is entered.

When scan_mode is asserted, the bypass logic causes the second and thirdmultiplexers 42,43 to divert the input signals from the input pinsdirectly to channel 0, and the return signal from channel 0 to theoutput pin TDO.

During scan mode, the other TAP controllers act as secondary TAPcontrollers, which are also structurally tested by the master TAPcontroller 12, are connected according to the table shown in FIG. 16.The first section 250 of the table shows that the pins TCK, notTRST,TMS, TDI and TDO are connected to channel 0, as described above. Theother sections 251–253 show the connections to channels 1, 2 and 3respectively. Each channel still receives the clock TCK. In each channel1, 2 and 3, notTRST is connected to the input signal tst_rst_n 57. Thelines TMS and TDI to each channel and the TDO return line from eachchannel remain connected from the internal functional path and are alsostructurally tested.

During the structural test, the multiplexer block 11 is effectivelyisolated so that its structure may be tested. In other circuits, oncethe test has been completed, a structural test reset is performed.

A problem might occur during power-up however, if the integrated circuit(chip) is powered up in scan test mode.

Embodiments of the present invention solve this problem by defining apriority order. The TAP multiplexer Reset is given highest priority, sothat if the chip powers up in scan test mode, a TAP multiplexer resetwill cause the scan test mode to be exited. This means that TAPMux resetis not tested during the structural test. The priority order is asfollows:

-   1. TAPMux Reset-   2. Structural Test Mode-   3. Multiplexer Mode-   4. Selection by Sequence-   5. selection by Pins

It should be appreciated that all of the multiplexer 41 isasynchronously reset on TAPMux reset. The TAPmux reset not derived fromsingle input but rather from a combination of inputs 3–6. In embodimentsof the invention, it is ensured that decode logic 44 (OR gate) does nothave state. To ensure that all states are correctly asynchronously(without requiring clocking) reset, this is achieved by assertion ofsignal tmx_notTRST in the low state. In some embodiments of theinvention, the signal tst_rst_n can be generated by the master TAPcontroller or by the external testing circuitry. The master TAPcontroller can thus receive scan test signals via the bypass logic. Totest the multiplexer 41, the master TAP controller can provide scan testsignals to the multiplexer 41. Additionally the scan test signals may beprovided to the bypass logic.

Within the multiplexer mode described above, there are two types of datatransfer, transparent data transfer and pipelined data transfer. Thesetypes of data transfer do not affect the operation of the TAPmultiplexer block but can have implications as to the operation of theexternal equipment. In the following, the operation of the external

TAP multiplexer driver will be described.

Firstly, the transparent data transfer will be described with referenceto FIG. 17 a. The external TAP multiplexer driver captures the positiveedge of the host test clock signal (see signal marked 1 in FIG. 17 a)and corresponding TMS and TDI data (see signal marked 2 in FIG. 17 a)for each slot allocated to a particular channel and this is passed tothe TAP multiplexer. The TAP multiplexer returns the test data (seesignal marked 4 in FIG. 17 a) in the corresponding slots. There is,therefore, a variable amount of time (counted in the TAP multiplexerclock periods shown by the signal marked 3 in FIG. 17 a) to the start ofthe next allocated slot and a further fixed amount of time or delay(counted in the TAP multiplexer clock periods) before the correspondingtest data is returned. There is no pipelining of data so the clockfrequency for such a channel is significantly lower than the TAPmultiplexer clock frequency. There is no additional clock latency(counted in clock periods for that channel) added to the path delaythrough the TAP multiplexer. This connection appears to be a direct ortransparent connection and is suitable for connection with lower speedtest devices which are not tolerant to pipeline or TAP controller daisychain delays in the return path. In other words the integrated circuitreceives test data from the external test circuitry and provides theassociated test data out to the external test circuitry within one clockcycle of one of the host computers. The delay is not visible in terms ofhost clock cycle boundaries.

Thus, for the transparent mode, the delay is significantly less than thehost clock period. Delay in this context is time taken for a signal fromhost to reach target (test equipment to TAP multiplexer 11 ), for signalinteraction with the target and for returning a signal to the testequipment. In this embodiment, the clock period on the integratedcircuit is much greater than the host clock period.

In the pipelined data transfer mode, the external TAP multiplexer drivercaptures the positive edge of the host test clock and corresponding TMSand TDI data as it arrives for each channel. This is buffered in a FIFOand passed to the tap multiplexer using the slots allocated to thatchannel. The TAP multiplexer returns test data in the correspondingslots. There is a fixed clock latency added to the path delay throughthe TAP multiplexer. This connection adheres like a TAP controller daisychain with a fixed pipeline delay. This is illustrated in FIG. 17 bwhich shows three pipelining stages for the TAP multiplexer, that is thedecoding occurs in the first clock cycle, interaction with the targetoccurs in the next clock cycle and returning the test data occurs in athird clock cycle.

In the pipeline mode, the delay is greater than the host clock period.As mentioned, delay is the time taken for a signal from the host toreach a target (test equipment to TAP multiplexer 11), for interactionwith the target and for returning a signal (TDO) to the test equipment.

It should be understood that the relationship between input test data(TDI) and output test data (TDO) is a function of the test operationbeing performed and this relationship is known to the external testequipment. In pipeline mode, this relationship is shifted or delayed bya whole number of TCK clock cycles, and the external test equipment musttherefore be cognizant or tolerant of this shift.

In this embodiment, the clock period TCK on the integrated circuit isthe same or faster than the host clock period (but not as fast as in thetransparent mode, relative to the host clock period).

The capture of data, processing, encoding, and transferring from targetcan measured as a finite number (substantially whole number) of clockperiods in the pipeline mode.

Test equipment for the transparent mode is such that the FIFO of FIG. 9can be omitted or at least the first location only thereof is used. TheFIFO is required for the pipeline mode. Thus the FIFO may comprisebuffer locations. The delay, that is time take to pass through the FIFOstage is thus greater than in the transparent mode.

Third party equipment may not be able to operate in pipeline mode. Thepipeline mode may be quicker.

For a low clock frequency with a FIFO, the data will come out, forexample three cycles of the host clock later which is undesirable. Toimprove the transparent performance, it is desirable to bypass as manyFIFOs as possible. For higher speed clocks, FIFOS are required.

Embodiments of the invention do not require control information from theon-chip block in order to distinguish between the transparent mode andpipelined mode. The behaviour is the same for both modes for the on chiplogic. The off chip logic may include additional complexity such thatthe combination of the off chip logic and the on chip logic give thecorrect behaviour in both modes of operation.

In embodiments of the invention there is consistent TCK three cycleoperation in both modes of operation, that is decode from host,interaction with target and encode to host, on the integrated circuit.

The FIFOs 61, 62,63, 64 shown in FIG. 9 are used differently in the twomodes of operation. In the transparent mode of operation, only the firstlocation is used whilst in the pipelined mode of operation the fulldepth of the FIFOs are used.

In one modification to the embodiments described above, the TAPcontrollers 13 and 14 and may be omitted. This is because these TAPcontrollers may not be used for structural test. The TAP controllerfunctionality in block 15 may or may not be present. The master TAPcontroller may then be arranged so that it is only visible in the bypassmode and in the multiplex mode all the channels appear as having no TAPcontroller. The master TAP controller is used in structural test.

The above described embodiments have been described in the context ofsingle bit serial data on TDI and TDO. It should be appreciated thatadditional signals may be provided to carry additional test data. Inother words TDI and TDO may be provided by a plurality of inputs andoutputs respectively. In preferred embodiments of the invention, theencoding scheme may only use the first TDI pin for control information.

In embodiments of the invention, TDI and corresponding internalderivatives of TDI may be extended by a plurality of connections forcarrying additional information from the external equipment to theappropriate internal CPU. Likewise, TDO and corresponding internalderivatives of TDO may be extended by a plurality of connections forcarrying additional information from the appropriate internal CPU to theexternal equipment. It is intended that the present invention encompasssuch changes and modifications as fall within the scope of the appendedclaims.

1. An integrated circuit comprising: a plurality of portions, eachportion including test control circuitry; at least one test inputarranged to receive test data; wherein said test data is clocked in aplurality of time slots, with test data for different ones of saidplurality of portions being allocated to different time slots.
 2. Acircuit as claimed in claim 1, wherein each time slot corresponds to aclock cycle.
 3. A circuit as claimed in claim 2, wherein each time slotis divided into two half slots.
 4. A circuit as claimed in claim 3,wherein each half slot of a time slot is allocated to a different one ofsaid plurality of portions.
 5. A circuit as claimed in claim 4, whereinframes are provided each contain n time slots.
 6. A circuit as claimedin claim 5, wherein n is
 8. 7. A circuit as claimed in claim 6, whereinthe slots in a frame are allocated to predetermined ones of saidplurality of portions of circuitry and said allocation is used for aplurality of said frames.
 8. A circuit as claimed in claim 7, whereinone of said portions of circuitry is allocated to one half of theavailable slots.
 9. A circuit as claimed in claim 8, wherein a giventime slot is allocated to a given channel until information is receivedtoken to allocated the time slot to a different channel.
 10. A circuitas claimed in claim 9, wherein the data amount per channel is equal toat least one slot.
 11. A circuit as claimed in claim 6, wherein theslots are allocated dynamically.
 12. A circuit as claimed in claim 11,wherein one of said portions of said circuitry is allocated to a quarterof the available slots.
 13. An integrated circuit comprising: aplurality of portions, each portion including test control circuitry;and a plurality of test inputs arranged to receive test data, wherein inone mode of testing, data is transferred using tokens, with each tokencomprising m bits, m/2 bits being transferred on a rising edge of aclock signal and m/2 bits being transferred on a falling edge of a clocksignal so that a token is transferred in a clock cycle.
 14. A circuit asclaimed in claim 13, wherein said token input is encoded.
 15. A circuitas claimed in claim 14, wherein the decoding of said input will bedependent on if a slot has been allocated to a channel or not.
 16. Acircuit as claimed in claim 15, wherein if the channel is not allocatedto a given slot, a predetermined combination of inputs will allocate thegiven slot to a channel with said token.
 17. A circuit as claimed inclaim 16, wherein if the channel is allocated, the token will provideone of the following: data for the allocated channel; deallocate theslot; provide an idle slot; and provide a reset.
 18. A circuit asclaimed in any of claim 17, wherein a reset mode is triggered when atoken provides a predetermined input.
 19. A circuit as claimed in claim18, wherein information provided by said token may be provided by onehalf of said token.
 20. A circuit as claimed in claim 19, wherein thetwo halves of the token are the same in at least some modes of operationof the circuit.
 21. A circuit as claimed in claim 20, wherein a resetmode is provided when one half of the token has all low values.
 22. Acircuit as claimed in claim 21, wherein the coding used when a slot isdeallocated or allocated is the same, but the information provided willbe determined by whether the slot is allocated or not.
 23. An integratedcircuit having a first mode and a second mode of data transfer, whereinin the first mode of data transfer the time taken for a test data inputfrom external test circuitry to be received and corresponding test datato be output to said external test circuitry is less than a clock periodof said external test circuitry and in a second mode of data transferthe time taken for a test data input from external test circuitry to bereceived and corresponding test data to be output to said external testcircuitry is greater than a clock period of said external testcircuitry, said integrated circuit comprising: decoding means fordecoding said test data input; target circuitry for interacting withsaid decoded test data input; and encoding means for encoding a signalfrom said target circuitry for said external test circuitry, whereinsaid circuit is arranged in both said first and second mode of datatransfer to have a n cycle operation in which said decoding meansdecodes said signal, said target circuitry interacts which said signaland said encoding means encodes said signal.
 24. A circuit as claimed inclaim 23, wherein n is
 3. 25. Test circuitry for testing an integratedcircuit, said test circuitry being external to said integrated circuit,said integrated circuit having a first mode and a second mode of datatransfer, wherein in the first mode of data transfer the time taken fortest data input from said external test circuitry to be received andcorresponding test data to be output to said external test circuitry isless than a clock period of said external test circuitry and in a secondmode of data transfer the time taken for a test data input from externaltest circuitry to be received and corresponding test data to be outputto said external test circuitry is greater than a clock period of saidexternal test circuitry, said test circuitry having a plurality ofbuffer locations for buffering signals received from and/or sent to saidtest circuitry, wherein with the first mode of data transfer, thesignals received from and/or sent to the test circuitry have a lowerdelay provided by said buffer locations than with the second mode ofdata transfer.
 26. Test circuitry as claimed in claim 25, wherein withthe first mode of data transfer at least one of said buffer locationsare bypassed.